Senior Litigation Attorney

Classification Title: Senior Litigation Attorney Classification Minimum Requirements:

Law degree (L.L.B. or J.D.) and five years of experience in the legal, medical, or healthcare fields. Must be a member in good standing of the Florida Bar or become a member within twelve months of employment. 

Job Description:

This position is responsible to the Deputy Administrator, University of Florida J. Hillis Miller Health Center Self-Insurance Program (UF SIP):

1) the identification, investigation, analysis and evaluation of the medical, legal, and fiscal issues related to covered claims, potential or asserted, against Participants of the SIP;

2) the coordination, management and resolution, including denial, settlement, or defense of all covered claims with or without Notice of Intent, potential or asserted, against SIP Participants, including the coordination, management and execution of all presuit legal and administrative processes required by Florida Statute;

3) the coordination and management of litigation processes in defense of lawsuits filed based on covered claims

4) the identification of risk factors which cause or contribute to claims and suits; and

5) the review of legal documents and other items submitted by insureds for risk assessment.

Identification, investigation, analysis and evaluation of the medical, legal, and fiscal issues related to covered claims, potential or asserted, against Participants of the SIP: The incumbent is responsible for the identification, review, investigation and analysis of claims, potential or asserted, against SIP participants. This includes, but is not limited to, conducting a full factual investigation of assigned claim files; evaluating claims in terms of negligence, causation, and compensable damages; presenting initial claims summaries to SIP internal committees; preparing claim summaries and making indemnity and allocated loss expense reserve recommendations pursuant to established protocols; serving as advisor to and investigator for the Self-Insurance Program Council and its Claims and Litigation Committee; and providing such assistance as required in fulfilling SIP administrative responsibilities, including the presentation of claims summaries and related reports. Participants, with whom the incumbent will have daily contact include, but are not limited to, the faculty, staff and administration of:

• University of Florida Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Veterinary Medicine (including the VMTH), Health-Related Professions and their affiliated facilities and programs throughout the State of Florida,

• Shands Jacksonville Medical Center and its affiliated facilities

• Florida State University College of Medicine and its affiliated facilities and programs throughout the State of Florida

• University of Central Florida College of Medicine and its affiliated facilities and programs throughout the State of Florida

• Florida Atlantic University College of Medicine and its affiliated facilities and programs throughout the State of Florida

• Florida International University College of Medicine and its affiliated facilities and programs throughout the State of Florida

Coordination and management of litigation processes in defense of lawsuits filed based on covered claims: The incumbent is responsible for identifying, reviewing, investigating and analyzing claims with legal interest asserted against SIP participants. This includes but is not limited to monitoring and continuing the full factual investigation of asserted claims through litigation; coordinating and ensuring timely response to interrogatories and production; tracking the progress of assigned all cases in litigation to ensure that an aggressive proactive defense and resolution of claims is accomplished within the timeframe set by SIP Management; initiating employment and retention of experts; undertaking the preparation of witnesses, including assisting outside legal counsel hired by the Program in the preparation of fact and expert witnesses for depositions related to claims in litigation and to assist outside legal counsel during said depositions; and developing defense strategies. The incumbent’s responsibilities also include assisting the Senior Associate Director in the selection of outside legal counsel and participating at all significant hearings, depositions, mediations, and trials. This also includes monitoring files to ensure appropriate reserves are in place and allocated loss expense and indemnity payments remain within authorized limits.

Coordination, management and resolution, including denial, settlement, or defense of all covered claims with or without Notice of Intent, potential or asserted, against SIP Participants, including the coordination, management and execution of all presuit legal and administrative processes required by Florida Statute: The incumbent i